TROPHIES GALORE: To date, the Queen of Soul has earned — count ‘em — a whopping 18 Grammy Awards. The most recent came in 2008 for "Never Gonna Break My Faith," a gospel number she recorded with Mary J. Blige and the Harlem Boys Choir. The track was included on 2007’s "Jewels in the Crown: All Star Duets With the Queen." Franklin earned her first two Grammys in 1968 for "Respect," a tune written by Otis Redding.

SINGING IN THE SHOALS: Franklin visited Alabama early in her career, and the moment was significant for all concerned. She recorded her first single for Atlantic, 1967’s "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," at FAME Studios with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. The gutsy soul ballad reached No. 1 on the R&B charts, No. 9 on the pop charts, and became the first big hit of her career.

JUST ANOTHER DIVA MOMENT: Not that we’re holding a grudge or anything ... but Franklin nixed a scheduled appearance at City Stages 2005, just one month before the festival. The reason? According to a City Stages spokesman, Franklin had predicted that she’d be too exhausted to perform. Organizers planned to pay the singer a six-figure sum that year. Hmm.

HEADED FOR HISTORY: Soul Sister No. 1 rocked a church-lady hat while singing "My Country, Tis of Thee" at the 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama. Franklin’s gray headgear featured a huge bow adorned with Swarovski crystals. It cost $179, according to the Los Angeles Times, and was created by Mr. Song Millinery in Detroit. Franklin later agreed to loan her spectacular hat to the Smithsonian Institution.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST: Big surprise! At age 68, Aretha does things her own way. Her next album, "A Woman Falling Out of Love," has been in the works for years. The release date keeps changing, but Franklin presided over a tea party/listening session for Detroit-area bigwigs earlier this spring, according to a reporter for The Macomb Daily. She played six cuts for her guests, including a cover of B.B. King’s "Sweet Sixteen."

DOWNLOADS 101: For a crash course on her music, we recommend: "Think," "Chain of Fools," "Respect," "Baby I Love You," "Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)," "Freeway of Love," "I Say a Little Prayer," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Sweet Sweet Baby (Since You’ve Been Gone)," "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)."

SHOW TIME: Aretha Franklin will perform with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra at 7 p.m. Sunday at the BJCC Concert Hall. Tix: $50-$125, available at 251-7727, the ASO website or through Ticketmaster.